In 1986, a ranching family sold California’s 53,000-acre Santa Rosa Island to the US for nearly $30 million; they retained about 7 acres and the right to stay for another 25 years
In December 1986, the United States federal government completed a deal to buy Santa Rosa Island for $29.5 million. The 53,000-acre island, located 26.5 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, was bought by the National Park Service from its longtime private owners, the Vail & Vickers ranching partnership. Under the deal, the ranching…
